Dinky

Last week at Falcon--carolina rig w/5"senko

Count me in!!

I really like it. Sounds almost corny to say it, but it is exciting and suspenseful--though not tingley!

I agree. If they at least offer, and they are sincere, then to me that is usually enough; but sometimes the offer seems grudging, or at least a bit hopeful it will be turned down. Plus, failure to offer to get the boat ready to fish or disappearing as soon as it is pulled out and parked at the parking area and/or leaving it full of trash is especially irritating-especially when not fishing in a tournament and just fishing for fun.

My total unbiased, objective view is that you all (who dislike them) are wrong about all three of those guys-Skeet, Edwin and Ike! LOL! I have actually spent a fill day in the boat with Edwin and Skeet and they could not have been nicer. But the perception on TV can often become the reality and I certainly understand the view some may have of them..

1 ounce may not be enough weight for the real thick stuff--1.5 to 2.0 (tungsten) might be needed. Long flippin stick and 65# braid. It's where the bigguns live.

Yes, I remember. Are you going to be able to come to the Road trip at Pickwick this year?

gripnrip, Great photos! Man was it cold! I was born and raised in the Tulsa area but moved away in 1986 --I also was thrilled when they announced Grand Lake as the classic site. I have been back to Tulsa quite a bit since '86-still have family there-but have only fished Tenkiller a couple of times with a friend who lives in Broken Arrow. I was really surprised at the quality and quantity of smallies in Tenkiller--they were not stocked there when I lived in Oklahoma. We also used to fish Eucha, Spavinaw, and we would take road trip to Broken Bow every year. Here are a few pics I took-more on my gallery.

Take the chandilier down from your dining room and try throwing it in your back yard--it will be great practice.

If Rhino is in the boat with me then No--he would try to push me into the water just to see if I floated. If Kate Upton is in the boat--do I need to actually say it--YES.

You think KVD might ever have marital problems?

I'm with you, Rhino! 34yrs for me this year.

Day 3 -Bassmaster Classic 2013 Grand Lake, Oklahoma Finally about 10:30pm last night I found out my pro for Day 3--Edwin Evers! He stars out in 20th place. The second day in a row I am paired wit a native Oklahoman. Yesterday I was paired with Tommy Biffle--he made the finals by one ounce and starts today in 25th place. Since I was born and raised in Tulsa (moved away in 1986) I was glad to be paired with some fellow Oklahomans. Edwin caught only one keeper. The general talk has been that the lack od wind in the morning was big factor in smaller weights. My first Classic and it was great. Will definetly attend future classics. My next Marshal gig is the Elite Series Tournament at Lake Falcon in Late March. Got my motel res in Zapata and will arrive a few days early to fish Falcon!

gripnrip-thanks! I'm using a Nikon Digital D3200 w/a basic Nikkor AF-S 18-55mm I'm getting ready to download some pics from today.

Friday February 22, 2013 Day 1 Bassmaster Classic 2013-Grand Lake, Oklahoma A long and cold day on the water with Albert Collins of Nacadoches, TX. Al qualified for the Classic by winning te Bass Weekender Series. Water temps were around 43 at launch but by noon had risen to about 46 degrees. If you haven't seen a Classic launch, or even an Elite Series launch, it is impressive. There was ice on a lot of the bluffs and docks. Seemed like it never melted. No matter, did you see the impressive weights these guys brought in? Apparently weather, at least cold weather, doesn't bother these fishermen.

Thursday, February 21st--Tulsa, Ok. Media Day/Marshal Check In and Meeting. Rained almost all day-32-34 degrees --the only good thing is we did not have to go out in it on the lake. Tomorrow's forecast: COLD. Sunny, but...COLD! Media Day was a chance to see all the competitors and their boats in one place. It is an awesome sight and my photos do not come close to showing how colorful these rigs are. Could have spent a lot more time talking to the competitors if the media hadn't been hogging all their time--Media Day-go figure. (Nothing personal, Glenn). After lunch we had our Marshal Meeting and BASSTRackk training. Waiting for text from Bassmasters to see who I will be paired with tomorrow. Doesn't matter to me--they are all much better fishermen than I am and I am a good learner. A few pics from Media Day. See my Gallery for more from Media day and Marshal Meeting.

Just a few thoughts on this and then I'm moving on. 1.The idea of waiving the 'dead fish rule' due to the travel time has some merit insofar as keeping the playing field as level as possible for the competitors---though it would seem it has little merit as far as 'overall survival rate'. 2.The overall 'survival rate' is difficult to determine when you consider it would include fish that ultimately died -say 12 hours after being released into the lake. 3.The real issue will be what additional level of stress is put on the fish by transporting from the lake to the weigh in in Tulsa. This will definitley require some extensive scientific investigation(read expensive and time consuming). 4.Meanwhle, our complaints, unaided by unbiased scientific facts, will surley serve only to spure the radical fringe who want to do away with sport fishing all together. In Germany, per a media rep from Germany at media day today ; there is no sport fishing in Germany-must eat what you catch-catch and release is a crime or soon will be in Germany.

This schedule coincides with the one they gave us at the Marshal meeting today. Thanks for posting whitwolf.

Wednesday, February 20th 2013. Slowly thawing out in downtown Tulsa, Ok. hotel. Marshaled with Randy Howell today during final practice day at the 2013 Classic. Weather was cold, damp, cold, snowy, damp (did I mention cold and damp?)--but as you can see Randy did ok despite the brutal conditions. Water temp was 45-46+ Tomorrow-no fishing! Media day for pros. Check in, lunch, meetings for Marshals - and pro pairings for Friday. Check my Gallery for more pics of service yard and Wednesday launch.

I will try to get there, LM. Won't get off the lake til around 3pm and then have to get back to weigh in downtown--truck will be there at service yard area. Save me a rib or two!